Improvement in clothes-pin machines



- 3 Sheets--Sheet 1. S. IN M A N.

improvement in Clothes Pin l\!achnes.4 No.124,137. Y PafemedFeb.2?,1a72.

S.|NMAN.

3 Shees--Sheet .2.

`Improvement in Clothes Pin Machines.

Patented Feb. 27,1812d m i l A l m ,LA/1" /I/LM/ Si *IN M AN I 3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

improvement in vC!othes.Pin N|achines-- N0. 124,137. Patented Feb. 27,1872.

STEPHEN INMAN, OF ROCKFORD, ASSIGNOR TO VILLIALWI H. OVINGTON,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

IMPROVEMENT IN CLOTHES=PIN MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 124,137, dated February 27, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

To all whom yit may concern:

Be it known that I, STEPHEN INnAN, of Rockford, in the county of Winnebago and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clothes-Pin Machines, and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine taken from the right-hand sidethat is, from that which is on the right hand of the operator when he is feeding it. Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken from the opposite or left-hand side. Fig. 3 is an end view taken from the end opposite to that at whichv the blanks are first passed into it. Fig. 4 is a detached view of some of the devices partly in section. Fig. 5 represents one of the finished pins; and Fig. 6 is a spring employed for confining the blank to the guide, as will be explained.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the figures.

The invention relates to that class of machines in which the lumber is fed in nat, square, or rectangular pieces, called blanks, and is delivered in complete pins; all of the various operations and manipulations being performed by the machine itself.

In the drawing,- Fig. 5 represents one of the pins made by my machine, in which X is the throat; the socket adapted to receive and confine the line and the article to be secured to the line. is a slit or kerf running nearly up to the head of the pin to give the legs sut'- ticient elasticity. A A1 A2 A3 represent'the feet or vertical posts upon which the machine is supported, and by means of which it may be conveniently secured to the door by bolts c. B Bl B2 (see Fig. 3) are transverse girts. B2 connects the lower ends of the feet or posts. A2 and B1, their upper ends. B extends from the upper end of post A1 to the corresponding post on the opposite side of the machine. lIt

will be seen that post A3 stands some distance in front of the corresponding post A, and has an arm at its upper end extending inward to a line with post A, with which it is connected by a girt as posts A1 are connected by girt B, but which cannot be seen, because it is located in the same horizontal plane with girt B, and is consequently hidden by it. C C are arched or angular bracket-s rising from the posts, one of them only being shown in Fig. 3, they being directly in line with each other. In practice l usually cast the brackets separately and then the supporting legs. D D1 are longitudinal girts connecting brackets C C with girt B1. D2 D3 is a shorter girt 1oca-ted at the crown or apex of the brackets,

and secured to them by being bolted to lugsl l cast upon the brackets or by any other convenient means. This girt is not straight, but has an offset near the center, so that the two ends are in parallel but different planes. D4 is another girt supported in angular pockets from the lower side of girt B and the corresponding girt which connects posts A A3, and which forms the base of bracket O. Girts D D1 D2 D3 D1 are all square, or at least rightangled, so that their faces are in parallel planes, and are thus adapted to receive the shafting of a system of gearing, which will now be described, the arrangement ofthe operating devices upon the triangular brackets O O securing great strength and compactness, and enabling the operator to inspect the operation of all of the parts while he is in proper position for feeding the blanks to the machine. E, Fig. 3, is the main driving-shaft, mounted upon the rear end of the machine, and driven through belt-pulley El from any suitable power. E2 E3 are driving-belt pulleys keyedto shaft E. F, Fig. 1, is a shaft mounted upon the right-hand side of the machine, and driven from main sha-ft E by means of bevel-gears e j'. G, Fig. 2, is a horizontal shaft mounted in bearings on the left side ofthe machine, and driven from main shaft E by a worm, G1, and worm-wheel G2, Figs. 2 and 3. gis a bevelpinion running loosely on shaft G, except when connected with said shaft by a sliding clutch,

g1, which is operated by shipping lever G3 Lever G3 is pivoted to an arm, g2, Fig. 2, projecting from the bracket C or to the girt which forms the base ot' this bracket. The central portion of this lever is bent,as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 3, to avoid contact with the driving-belts to be described hereafter, its

free end resting in notches in girt D within convenient reach of the operator, a-s in Fig. l. H is the feed-wheel shaft, provided at the lower end with a bevel-wheel, I, which gears with bevel-pinion g. H is the feed-wheel, keyed to the upper end of shaft H. This wheel has near its periphery a circle of radial slots, IL. It runs upon and is partly supported by a stationary faceplate, 11. By using this faceplate in combination with wheel H the wheel may be made very light, and still have sufficient strength. I2 (see Fig. 2) is a toothed disk revolving in bearings in bracket z" at tached to the frame-work of the machine. Disk I2 revolves in a plane at right angles to the plane of feedwheel H', and in such rela tion thereto that the spurs ofthe disk engage 4with the slots lo, and, passing through said slots, project above the upper face ofthe wheel. J isa bedplate located at the crown of the brackets C Gf, and secured thereto in such manner as may be preferred. In practice. I make the bed-plate a little longer than the girt which connects the brackets at this point and let the front end project, as shown in the drawing. It will be seen by an inspection of Fig. 2 that feed-wheel Ll occupies a recess cut for its reception in the bed-plate; in fact the wheel occupies t-he same plane with the upper face of the bed-plate, and forms a continuation of the same, with this difference: that the bedplate is always stationary, whereas the feed wheel, when the machine is in operation, moves forward continuously, carrying with -it the blank, as will be explained.

K is a iluted roller, the journals of which are supported in open slots in flanges K K', rising from bed-plate J and girt D2 D3, or other suitable part of the frame. 7c L' are ton gne-sprin gs, their free ends resting upon the journals of roller K. Any required amount of tension may be given to these springs by means of a clamp and set-screws, shown in Figs. l and 2. The clamp is constructed of a bar, k1, which lies underneath the bed-plate J, two rightangled arms, k2, which pass on either side of said bed-plate, and two intervening lugs or ears, 7c3, (see Fig. 1,) which engage with and hold down spring 7c. 7st is a strap, placed across the upper face of the front end of bedpiece J, (see Fig. 1;) and R5, Fig. 2, is a similar strap upon the under side of the bed-piece, these two being secured to the bedfplate by riveting'. k6 are set-screws, working in threads cut in the ends of one or both of the straps 7a4 h5. The front ends ofthe spring 7i: are usually countersunk, so that they will engage with the projecting ends of set-screws k6. Thus the tension of the springs may be regulated at will by means of said screws, or by moving the clamp k1 k2 k3 toward or from the roller K. L is a guidcplate extending nearly or quite the entire length of the bed-plate. It is secured by one edge to girt D2 D3, or to the bed-plate, as may be thought best, and is so arranged relatively to the bed-plate that one leg of a pin, or of the blank after the kerf has been cut,

can pass between them, and is of a width and thickness corresponding substantially to the depth and thickness ofthe kerf, so that when the blank is placed upon the bed-piece with the open side of the kerf toward the girt D2 D3, as in Fig. 1, one leg ofthe blank sha-ll pass on each side of the guide, and the blank will be fed forward by the combined action of the feed-wheel H1 and toot-hed disk I2, the lluted roller K serving to press it (the blank) upon the feeding devices. M M are cutter-heads, secured to shaft Ml M1, which are mounted upon the frame-work, one above the bed-piece and the other below it, the axes ofthe cutters occupying planes parallel, or nearly so, with guide-plate L, and at such distances from it that, when a pin-blank is forced between said cutter-heads it is concaved upon both sides, as represented in the pin, Fig. 5. These cutterheads may be constructed with knives or cutting-edges, of any approved description which are adapted to do the work required of them. Cutter-heads M are made to revolve rapidly by the following system of belts and pulleys. N is a belt-pulley, keyed to a shaft, N1, mounted transversely of the machine, and is driven from pulley EJ by a belt, N2. Shaft N1 carries ulbit/h/It belt-pulley N3, from. which motion is cnimunicated to pulleys m m by belt M2. MJ is an idler or loose pulley, employed to make the belt M2 wrap the pulleys m m sufficiently, and to cause them to run in opposite directions. 'lhis latter object is accomplished by the peculiar manner in which the belt is carried from one pulley to the other, as shown in Fig. l, and which will be readily understood by all who are familiar with running machinery by beltine. O is a burring or chaintering tool, shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, and in section lines in Fig. 4. It consists of a disk having a beveled edge, formed either with serrations or with saw-teeth, in substantially the shape shown in the sectional view, Fig. 4. Its axis of rotation is ina plane at right angles to that of the cutterhead M, and it is a little in rear of them, as shown in Fifr. l, but in the saine plane with the guide-plate L; in fact this plate is cut away to receive it. rlhe relative positions of the guide-plate, cutter-heads, and the burr, are shown clearly in detached view, Fig. 4. The burr is secured to shaft O1, see Fig. 2, which is driven by belt P2 from pulley 03, this pulley being, in turn, driven by belt O4 from pulley EZ, on the main driving-shaft. F is the socket-borer, formed on or attached to the inner end of shaft F1, driven from a pulley on shalt N1 by belt F3. This borer consists of a bulb or annular cutter, provided with suitable cutting-edges, being similar in its general construction to thosesoin ctiines employed in dovetailin machines for cutting dovetailed lnortises. The shank of this borer is made in the form of a cone, and is adapted to lit into and be supported by the throat or chalnfer X, cut by the borer O, which insures its cutting the socket .c exactly in the center ofthe pinthat is, with reference to the thickness of the legs outside of the socket. The shafts of borer P, burr O, and cutter-heads M M may be mounted in movable bearings, so that they can be adjusted as the kind and condition of the work may require.

The operation of the devices just described is as follows: The lumber to be made into pins is first cut into strips of a width equivalent to the length of the pin, with the grain of the wood running transversely of the strip. A kerf is then cut extending nearly the entire width ofthe blocks or slabs. This part ofthe operation may be performed by means of any suitable arrangement of circular saws and guides, but which need not be particularly described, as this preparation of the blank forms no part of the invention. The blank represented at Q., Fig. 1, is placed upon bed-plate J with one leg on each side of the guide L, and pressed forward until it is `brought into contact with the feed-wheel H1 and spurred disk l2, and by them fed along, the iiuted roller K serving to keep it, the blank, lirmly down in place. As each blank is about leaving the feeding devices another must be presented to them; 'thenthe second blank will push the first one along toward and past the cutters. The cutter-heads concawe both sides of the blanks, the burr chamfers them, and the borer cuts l out the sockets, the blanks being held down to the guide and bed-plate by the springs lt, which are secured in rocking arms R1 mounted in bearings r, secured to the bed-plate or frame. Arms R1 may be rotated so as to give any desired pressure upon the blank, and when so adjusted are held in position by setscrews r1, which impinge upon the journals of the arm.

The blanks are pressed laterally against the guide-plate by a spring-bar, S, Figs. 1 and 6, in order to insure that they shall maintain a proper relation to the cutting devices when being acted upon by them. This bar has an ear, s, at its front end, provided with a perforation, (see Fig. 6,) which fits over one of the bolts K6 at the front end of the bed-plate, and has a hook, s', at its rear or free end, which engages with the outer edge of the bed-plate to prevent accidental displacement while permittin g sufficient freedom of movement. The lip-springs s2 of the bar rest against a ledge or rib on the outer side of the bed-plate. When preferred, the iluted roller K may be driven from the shaft H of feed-wheel H1, by two bevelgear wheels, one being mounted on said shaft, and the other on a projecting journal of the roller, in which case the spurred disk l2 might, perhaps, be dispensed with, but the present arrangement is believedto be the more effective. The blank is now ready to be cut into single pins by a se ies of devices, which will next be described. T is a table or iioor secured to girts l), D1, and B1, fitting the entire space, in rear ofbracket C. T1 is a circular-saw mounted on an arbor running in boxes on the floor T, and driven trom pulley F1 on shaft F. T2 is a saw-guard or drum, inclosing that portion of the saw which projects above the floor T. t, Fig. 1,' is a slot, cut in the crown of guardT2, that portion, t1, ofthe guard, which is cut out to form the slot, being turned up into a vertical position to form a stop or gauge, for a purpose which will be hereinafter explained. U is a vibra-ting table, supported upon two U- shaped springs U1 U1, in close proximity to saw T1, thel upper edge ofthe table being a little above the edge ofthe saw, as shown plainly in Figs. l and 2. U2 is a guiding-plate or tongue,secured to the upper side ot' table U, corresponding in all respects to guide-plateL on the bed-plate, and arranged in a like relation to the face of table U. u is a. tonguespring, employed to keep the blank in close contact with the guide U2. a1 is a strap or clasp bolted to the table, leaving just suiiicient room for the blank to pass between it (the clasp) and the table, when the blank is thrust forward by the operator. u2 u2 are curved tingers, preferably formed upon or attached to clasp u1. The lower outer ends of these fingers are in about the same horizontal plane with the clasp, it being intended that they should be in contact with the outer edge ofthe blank when it has been thrust beyond the edge of the table U against the stop t1. The form of these lingers, and their position relative to the stop and the table, is shown in Fig. 1. V is acrank-shat't mounted in girt B and a hanger V1 depending from the iioor T. V2 is a belt and crank-wheel, driven from pulley G3 on shaft G. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) V3 is a pitman, connecting table U with crank-wheel V2, to give said table a vertical vibratory movement. U3 is a guide-bar, secured to table U, and sliding in a slotted supporting standard a3.

The operator slides the blank Q1 (which has been passed through the cutters) against stop t1 while the table is at the highest point of its throw; then as the table is moved downward by pitma-n Vs the saw cuts one pin oft' from the end of the blank, repeating the operation at each vibration of the table. The iin gers a2 a2 serve to carry down the pin simultaneously with the blank, and thus prevent any slivering as the parts are being separated. The table U may be hinged to the tloor, if thought best, but I prefer to employ the U-shaped springs, as that gives a forward as well as downward motion to it as it approaches the saw, thus making a cleaner, smoother cut than can be otherwise produced. Of course, the stop t1, must be at such distance from the saw as will make a pin of proper size, and there should be a receptacle below the saw to receive the pins after they are cut oft'. The cuttingoff saw may be arranged at the rear end of bed-plate J, so that the blanks shall be fed to it automatically, but as this involves the necessity of so constructing the devices for operating the saw, that the saw itself shall be moved up to the blank, and shall travel with said blank during the operation of cutting od' the pin, I have thought best to adopt the construction shown in the drawing.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a machine for making clothes-pins, the herein-described frame-Work, consisting of the triangular brackets c c1, in combination with the girts `D D1 D2 Dil D4 and bed-plate J, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the bed-plate J, the feed-wheel H1 and spurred disk I2, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of bed-plate J, feedwheel H1, spurred disk I2, and pressure-roller K, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for makin g clothes-pins, the combination of the guide-plate L and the bedplaite J, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of the bed-plate J, guideplate L, and cutter-heads M M, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of bed-plate J, guideplate L, and chainfcringburr O, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of bed-plate J, guideplate L, and socket-borer P, substantially as set forth.

8. In combination with bed-plate J, guideplate L, and the cutting devices, the springbar S, arranged in the described relation to the guide-plate, substantially as set fort-h.

9. In combination with thc hed-plate J, guide-plate L, and the cutting` devices, the

1 springs It, substantially as set forth.

IVit-nesses:

G. W. FORD, G. F. O. LANDrN. 

